Top-prop for buggies.



PATENTED NOV, 20, 1906.

Q I.S.NORTON.

TOP PROP FOR BUGGIES. APPLICATION FILED MAR.2.1906.

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ISAAC S. NORTON, OF MANGUM, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

TOP-PROP FOR BUGGIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed March 2, 1906. Serial No. 303,893.

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo S. NORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mangum, in the county of Greer and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Top-Prop for Buggies; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to top-props for buggies.

When the top of a buggy is in its rear folded position, its whole weight is supported by the rear bow thereof resting against a stud or projection from the buggy-seat back. The continual jolting of the buggy in use tends to bend this bow and to otherwise have a ruinous effect upon the buggy-top.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide an improved device simple in construction, cheap of manufacture, and eflicient in use, whereby the rear bow of the buggy is strengthened at the point where it is subjected to the greatest strain and means are provided for interposing a cushion between the rear bow and its supporting-stud to take up the jar caused by the continual jolting of the buggy.

To this end a convenient embodiment of the invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereto attached. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a buggy body and top, showing the application thereto of my improved form of prop. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the main body portion thereof, and Fig. 4 is a detail view of a sliding U-shaped member forming a part of the device and hereinafter referred to.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 designates the rear bow. of the buggy-top, pivoted at 2 to the support 3, which is secured to the body 4. 5 designates the main body portion of the device, constructed from malleable iron or similar material in the form of a sleeve 6 of approximately circular form in cross-section and open at its top for the reception of the rear bow 1, to which it is firmly secured by bending the sides 7 thereof tightly between the ends thereof is removed at 11, and a transverse member 12 is riveted or otherwise suitably secured at this point to the material forming the bottom of the sleeve. This transverse member 12 is formed with a reduced curved central portion 13 to conform to the general configuration of the sleeve and with squared lateral projecting portions 14, terminating in screw-threaded portions 15.

The arms of the U-shaped member 10, which are arranged to extend up toward the sleeve and at opposite sides thereof, are provided with elongated slots 16, which are adapted to be engaged by the squared portions 14 of the transverse member. 12, and nuts 17 engage the screw-threaded portions 15, so that the U-shaped member 10 is securely held in operative position and its sliding movement limited. The member 10 is normally held at the limit of its downward movement, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, by a coil-spring 18, which is arranged between the portions 8 and 9, one end of the spring bearing against the bottom of the sleeve and the other end against the portion 19 of the U-shaped member.

The sleeve is so clamped to the rear bow that when the buggy-top is folded back the portion 19 of the U-shaped member will rest against a stud or projection 20, extending from the buggy-seat back, and thus forms a yielding support therefrom, whereby the vibration caused by the movement of the buggy-body is taken up by the spring and not transmitted to the buggy-top. The sides 7 of the sleeve are formed with cut-out portions 21 and 22, so that they may be bent to snugly engage the bow.

It will be understood that various changes in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, a main body portion formed of a single piece of malleable material and comprising a sleeve ITO open at the top and adapted to receive and to be clamped to a buggy-bow by bending the sides thereof around said bow, and portions struck out from the material of the sleeve and spaced apart and arranged at right angles thereto and a sliding yieldable member associated with the main body portion.

2. In a device of the class described, a sleeve provided with spaced parallel portions depending downwardly therefrom and portions projecting laterally from opposite sides of said sleeve, a U-shaped member mounted to slide between the downwardly-depending parallel portions and provided with slots for engagement with the laterally projecting portions and a spring interposed between the lower portion of the U-shaped member and the bottom of the sleeve.

3. In a device of the class described, a

sleeve provided with downwardly-depending 20 Vhaving its opposite ends bearing against the bottom of the sleeve and the U-shaped member respectively.

In testimony whereof I have hereto aflixed go my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

I ISAAC S. NORTON. Witnesses:

GRAY HoUsToN, S. BUsBY. 

